Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Fri May 24, 2024 11:15 am
by Wanttobuild25
I’ll be wanting to refinish the glareshield on my second-hand Onex - the medium gray paint has cracked and peeled in several places.
Any consensus / thoughts / experience on refinishing, especially considering desire to minimize reflection in the windshield as well as minimizing heat production on sunny days?
Thanks!
Jeff Ackland
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Fri May 24, 2024 12:17 pm
by daleandee
Wanttobuild25 wrote:I’ll be wanting to refinish the glareshield on my second-hand Onex - the medium gray paint has cracked and peeled in several places.
Any consensus / thoughts / experience on refinishing, especially considering desire to minimize reflection in the windshield as well as minimizing heat production on sunny days?Thanks!
Jeff Ackland
A few years ago I replaced my glareshield covering with some speaker carpet from Autozone Aviation supply. Used some 3-M spray glue to attach it. Light weight and works well. You can even hold things in place on the carpert using the “hook” side of velcro. See it here in this walk around video (4:00 mark):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg0fgs4cFuE
Dale
3.0 Corvair/Tailwheel
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Fri May 24, 2024 12:42 pm
by Bryan Cotton
I was all about minimizing reflections. Flat black paint (maybe primer) for me.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Fri May 24, 2024 4:13 pm
by karmarepair
Mine has “wrinkle” black applied by a previous builder and I’m not a fan. Has more gloss than I’d like, and it cracks. I’ve seen cheap felt from Joann’s used, and I like that idea better, or Dale’s speaker fabric.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Fri May 24, 2024 5:22 pm
by Area 51%
Whatever you decide on, just make sure it’s black. Anything lighter will show up as a reflection in the windscreen. We started with a really nice grey outdoor carpet. Couldn’t see crap out the window.
.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Fri May 24, 2024 7:33 pm
by Murray Parr
I installed a super thin and light weight black felt. I had to be careful not to stretch it as this causes a few gaps to appear. I am happy with the result and haven’t noticed any reflections.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Fri May 24, 2024 9:11 pm
by Bryan Cotton
I often have to wipe down my glareshield. It gets dusty. The fabric probably does too, but harder to notice. So I think that is one advantage of paint.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Fri May 24, 2024 11:01 pm
by Kai
The kit for Sonex A #0525 came with a suitable (matt)black fabric from Sonex to cover the glareshield. It has ben sitting there since 2005. Since then no hiccups, and the view through the window is good (as long as I don´t spill autofuel on it!). The only thing I regret concerning the instrument panel/glareshield construction, is my strict adherence to the plans. I should have devised some means (hinge, detachable cover- whatever) to get behind the instrument panel once finished. As it is, any form of rewiring, inspection, repair etc) is something for the younger generation with considerable more agility then I can muster. I vented my concern about this to Sonex at the time, but was informed that the design was structural and I better not mess with it. Now I´m stuck with it.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Fri May 24, 2024 11:16 pm
by Skippydiesel
I used black, lightweight, fire rated, UV resistant, fiberlock, marine carpet.
Cut to exact shape and stuck in place using some adhesive Velcro.
Easy to remove. No glare.
Metal surface matt black - just in case I forget the carpet:)
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Sat May 25, 2024 10:28 pm
by karmarepair
Kai wrote:The only thing I regret concerning the instrument panel/glareshield construction, is my strict adherence to the plans. I should have devised some means (hinge, detachable cover- whatever) to get behind the instrument panel once finished. As it is, any form of rewiring, inspection, repair etc) is something for the younger generation with considerable more agility then I can muster. I vented my concern about this to Sonex at the time, but was informed that the design was structural and I better not mess with it. Now I´m stuck with it.
I will contend that a 4-40 machine screw in a minature nut plate is scructurally equal or better than a 1/8" Stainless rivet. From various web sources:
“4-40 X 1/2 Flat Head Cap Screw Alloy Steel Black Oxide USA: Has a minimum single shear strength of 950 lbs and a minimum tensile strength of 880 lbs”
“The shear strength of a 1/8 inch stainless steel rivet with a steel body can range from 420–550 lbs.”
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Sat May 25, 2024 10:49 pm
by karmarepair
In answer to the Original Poster, Fire Retardant duvetyne, a lightly brushed cotton canvas, looks like one of the lightest fabric alternatives. Available online, or at Hobby Lobby, Michaels or Joann Fabric.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Sun May 26, 2024 12:11 am
by daleandee
karmarepair wrote:In answer to the Original Poster, Fire Retardant duvetyne, a lightly brushed cotton canvas, looks like one of the lightest fabric alternatives. Available online, or at Hobby Lobby, Michaels or Joann Fabric.
In my little bit of research on the subject I believe you have hit the nail pretty squarely on the head. A lightweight fabric, preferaby cotton, is recomended for several reasons. The fibers of the fabric (whether cloth, canvas, or light carpet) will tend to capture the light and hinder reflections. The fabric will also help prevent the metal (aluminum) glareshield from collecting heat. Even flat black paint will tend to have some small sheen in it, collects & shows dust, and will eventually crack & peel from heat exposure.
For a number of years I had a vinyl covering (looked almost like leather but was much lighter) on my glareshield. Although it was flat black and looked amazing it still had reflections much more than I anticipated. See it in this video (at 0:21) as I turn into the sun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VP7UYEqQ-g
My Autozone Aviation covering is much better …
Dale
3.0 Corvair/Tailwheel
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Sun May 26, 2024 7:38 am
by Skippydiesel
Very nice finish on the glareshield.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Sun May 26, 2024 7:48 pm
by Jester504
Black duvetyne, or just “duv,” is what’s used in film & TV to prevent reflections and/or hide stuff.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Sun May 26, 2024 11:30 pm
by Skippydiesel
Jester504 wrote:Black duvetyne, or just “duv,” is what’s used in film & TV to prevent reflections and/or hide stuff.
Reads very well. Could be costly compared with lightweight fire resistant marine carpet.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Mon May 27, 2024 11:35 am
by Tnhelm
I used brown camoflage rattle can paint, like used on duck hunting boats. (Krylon) I think I also primed the panel for painting. Several light coats of the final finish. I had an aircraft mechanic ask if it was leather because of the look. My reason for brown instead of black is because of the radiant heat and dust collection issues. In fact, I dislike black for any panel, mine is light grey like modern jets. Also the glareshield color was more appeasing for my exterior color scheme. I haven’t noticed any reflection glare, which I am acutely aware of as well.
Tnhelm
OneX 0137
AeroVee, MGL Extreme and remote com, Garmin Trxpdr, Echo ADSB in/out.
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Mon May 27, 2024 7:15 pm
by Skippydiesel
Wow!!! Thats one beautifully set out/engineered panel - well done!
Re: Glareshield Surface Treatment
Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 12:14 pm
by builderflyer
If you already have your glareshield covered in fabric and find it too reflective, consider painting it with flat black spray paint that is specifically sold to be used on fabric. Worked for me.
Art,Sonex taildragger #95,Jabiru 3300 #261